Council's Christmas gift

THE Biloela Skate Park re-opened on Wednesday with more than 100 youngsters turning up to try out the refurbished facility.

There were skateboards, scooters and bikes of all shapes and sizes testing out the new facility.

At one stage the Banana Shire Council investigated the possibilty of constructing a new skate park facility due to the damage to the previous one.

After public consultation it was decided to rehabilitate the existing facility with extra upgrades, rather than reconstruct a new one with less activities.

The project cost was $185,687, with $150,000 funded by Sport and Recreation and council paying the additional $35,000.

Mayor Nev Ferrier was there to open the skate park and he said he was happy to see so many Biloela youth take advantage of the new facility.

"It has come up really well and it's great to see this many kids here trying it out,” Cr Ferrier said.

"There is still some more shade cloth to go up to help finish it off.

"We spoke to the parents and the youth and got consultation from them about what they wanted because they were the ones who will be using it.”

A "mobile” skate ramp on display at the opening will be taken to smaller places for the kids to try out.

Another upgrade is the free Wi-Fi which is available at the park during the day (but not at night).

Australian Skateboarding Community Initiative coach Jason Marsh was there to help mentor the riders and said the park looked good.

"Gotta love the shade and colours of the skate park instead of the boring concrete grey some of them have,” Mr Marsh said.

ASCI facilitator Theo George who was helping compere the day also gave out plenty of prizes.

"To rebuild the old facility shows the community has seen value in the skate park,” Mr George said.

"It has been a hot afternoon and to see how many kids have turned out shows they appreciate what has been done for them.”

Mr George gave away shirts, stickers and Etnies shoes to lucky kids who put in the effort on the day.

There was music from Jai Volker (aka DBL J) and members of the Callide Valley Men's Shed handed out refreshments.

The work on the facility involved three new benches, a new drinking fountain, a new solar bin, three new solar lights, six new shade sails for the big skate park, two new shade sails on top of the junior slab for kids.